The presentation of the NIC Gold Medal and NIC Silver Medal dates back more than 70 years, making it one of the oldest interfraternal traditions. The Gold Medal is the highest honor the Conference can bestow and recognizes lifelong service to the interfraternal community and/or the NIC. The Silver Medal recognizes exemplary service or leadership in a role or task that has advanced the fraternal movement.
2022 Applications Now Open!
Submit a nomination now for the 2022 awards program through the button below! The application period for Gold & Silver Medals has been extended to May 10, 2022.
2021 Gold Medal Honoree
Mark E. Timmes
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, PI KAPPA PHI

As Pi Kappa Phi’s Chief Executive Officer for 27 years, Mark Timmes has undeniably had a remarkable impact through his commitment to Pi Kappa Phi and the greater industry through work with the NIC, Southeastern Greek Leadership Association, Fraternity Executives Association and other industry groups. He has been a steadfast leader — his involvement is not in name or position only; his contributions are measured in action and legacy.
Timmes is one of the most well-respected, experienced, and supportive leaders in the fraternity industry. He is a devoted, life-long mentor, influencer, advocate and friend to many fraternity members and supporters. A true champion of the fraternity movement, Timmes does this work for the right reason and with no ego. He operates off the fundamental belief that work to advance the fraternity and sorority experience cannot happen without the greater community of inter/national organizations.
2021 Silver Medal Honoree
Linda Wright
FRATERNAL LIABILITY MANAGER, CREATIVE RISK SOLUTIONS

Linda Wright has been helping national fraternity headquarters, fraternity chapters and individual fraternity members navigate the difficult world of litigation for 30 years. She has spoken at countless fraternity leadership programs as well as headquarters staff training events. She believes strongly in the value of the fraternity experience and has been a vigorous advocate.
Wright has earned top accreditation and is a trusted source of information in risk and claims cases. But more importantly, she is a strong advocate for fraternity and sincerely believes in the benefits of fraternity membership for college men. She defends fraternal organizations and individual members in the most difficult circumstances. She truly cares about the people she works with and is part of the fraternal family.
2020 Silver Medal Honoree
Keith J. Steiner
PAST CHAIRMAN, DELTA TAU DELTA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION

A life-long volunteer for the Delta Tau Delta fraternity and foundation, Keith J. Steiner has served his brothers and the fraternal community with intelligence and humble leadership. After a 12 year professional career with Delta Tau Delta, he went to work for UBS, where he has remained for 35 years. He has been an incredible asset to the fraternal industry through his finance career, managing dozens of fraternal institutional endowments and serving as a conscientious partner to many organizations and their leaders. Throughout this time he has also served Delta Tau Delta directly as President of the Northern Division, International Secretary and Chairman of the Delta Tau Delta Educational Foundation. For the past 50 years, Keith has been the consummate fraternity gentlemen.
2019 Gold Medal Honorees
William A. “Bill” Martin, III.
PAST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PHI GAMMA DELTA FRATERNITY

Bill Martin has been a constant presence supporting the interfraternal movement for nearly 40 years. He has had an exemplary career in which he earned a reputation for selfless leadership and dedicated service.
In 29 years as executive director, he navigated Phi Gamma Delta through many culture shifts, from the implementation of the fraternity’s first liability insurance program to the creation of a risk management policy and the adoption of alcohol-free housing. More recently, Bill successfully executed transformational strategic initiatives to significantly grow Phi Gamma Delta, increase the involvement of its alumni brothers and launch an effort to “Build Courageous Leaders.”
“Bill has provided a lifetime of service through his vocation, but he exemplifies what is means to be a fraternity man. Phi Gamma Delta and the fraternity movement are better because of Bill’s dedication,” a nominator said.
James B. Russell

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EMERITUS, DELTA TAU DELTA FRATERNITY
A gifted writer and historian, Jim Russell has applied his communication skills to the betterment of the fraternal movement in channels no other executive has navigated. A vigorous champion of the fraternity/sorority movement, Jim is known for genuine authenticity, dedicated professionalism and a deep determination to serve.
“What distinguishes Jim Russell from the many other interfraternal leaders is his willingness to lead from the back as well as from the front,” one nominator said. “He has always been a ‘glue guy,’ the person who holds the team together, who does his job while helping others do theirs and who never seeks fame and recognition. His style and body of work speak to the essence of the Gold Medal – others have been helped or guided to improve what they do because of Jim.”
Jim became Delta Tau Delta’s eighth executive director in 2001 after a 25-year career in sports writing. He was responsible for launching the fraternity’s first member education initiative in 2008 and oversaw unprecedented organizational growth. By the time Jim retired in 2018, the fraternity had grown from 6,400 undergraduate members in 2001 to more than 10,000 in 2017.
He invested innumerable hours into projects and committees for the North American Interfraternity Conference, Fraternal Information and Programming Group, Fraternal Risk Management Trust and the Purdue Fraternity and Sorority Alumni Advisory Council.
2019 Silver Medal Honoree

John M. Green
PAST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PHI KAPPA TAU FRATERNITY
John Green has been an engaged leader of Phi Kappa Tau for 60 years. He is an outstanding interfraternal brother, mentor, leader and fraternal man of distinction.
John’s long-time volunteer efforts – including a term as national president – came to a head in the 1980s when he was hired as the fraternity’s executive director. In that role he was instrumental in the founding of the Fraternal Risk Management Trust and Fraternal Information and Programming Group. After serving as the fraternity’s top administrator for a decade, he later agreed to become executive director of the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation, in which he guided a successful $6.5 million campaign before he retired in 2007.
“John always replied in the affirmative when his fraternity and the interfraternity community called. His leadership and passion was needed during a variety of historical moments. I continue to be very impressed with John’s vision, compassion, leadership and dedication as a fraternity man.”
Past Recipients
Year | Recipient | Organization |
---|---|---|
1940 | Alvan E. Duerr | Delta Tau Delta |
1941 | H. Maurice Darling | Delta Kappa Epsilon |
1946 | Lloyd G. Balfour | Sigma Chi |
1947 | John Moseley | Sigma Alpha Epsilon |
1948 | G. Herbert Smith | Beta Theta Pi |
1949 | Leroy A. Wilson | Lambda Chi Alpha |
1950 | Joseph A. Bursley | |
1951 | Arthur Ray Warnock | Beta Theta Pi |
1951 | Joseph A. Park | Alpha Tau Omega |
1951 | William R. Bayes | Phi Delta Theta |
1952 | Henry M. Wriston | Delta Tau Delta |
1953 | Verling C. Enteman | Delta Phi |
1954 | Frank H. Myers | Kappa Alpha Order |
1954 | Maurice Jacobs | Phi Epsilon Pi |
1955 | Cecil J. Wilkinson | Phi Gamma Delta |
1956 | Fred H. Turner | Sigma Alpha Epsilon |
1957 | Herbert L. Brown | Phi Sigma Kappa |
1957 | John M. McGregor | Alpha Tau Omega |
1959 | Horace G. Nichol | Delta Upsilon |
1960 | Francis S. Van Derbur | Kappa Sigma |
1961 | George S. Ward | Phi Delta Theta |
1962 | Herman B. Wells | Sigma Nu |
1962 | J. Edward Murphy | Sigma Nu |
1964 | Henry R. Johnston | Delta Kappa Epsilon |
1965 | Tom C. Clark | Delta Tau Delta |
1966 | Dr. Seth R. Brooks | Beta Theta Pi |
1966 | Joel W. Reynolds | Delta Tau Delta |
1967 | Roland Maxwell | Phi Kappa Tau |
1967 | Scott Turner | Psi Upsilon |
1968 | George Chapman | Theta Chi |
1969 | Houston T. Karnes | Lambda Chi Alpha |
1970 | J. Dwight Peterson | Sigma Chi |
1970 | Stewart D. Daniels | Alpha Tau Omega |
1971 | Joe Waggonner Jr. | Kappa Sigma |
1971 | Earl D. Rhodes | Theta Chi |
1972 | Robert W. Krovitz | Alpha Epsilon Pi |
1972 | Zeke L. Loflin | Theta Xi |
1975 | Tozier Brown | Lambda Chi Alpha |
1976 | John D. Miller | Phi Delta Theta |
1977 | Richard R. Fletcher | Sigma Nu |
1978 | George S. Toll | Alpha Epsilon Pi |
1979 | Ralph D. Daniel | Phi Kappa Psi |
1979 | George F. Patterson Jr. | Acacia |
1981 | Robert K. Ausman, M.D. | Alpha Epsilon Pi |
1982 | Dr. Norman Vincent Peale | Phi Gamma Delta |
1983 | Ronald Reagan | Tau Kappa Epsilon |
1984 | Harold Jacobsen | Sigma Pi |
1984 | Robert B. Stewart | Alpha Chi Rho |
1985 | Ewing T. Boles | Phi Kappa Tau |
1985 | Barry Goldwater | Sigma Chi |
1986 | Jack L. Anson | Phi Kappa Tau |
1987 | Dr. Ronald W. Roskens | Sigma Tau Gamma |
1987 | Richard H. Sudhelmer | Triangle |
1988 | Paul K. Addams | Alpha Chi Rho |
1988 | Sidney H. Guller | Sigma Alpha Mu |
1989 | Stanley I. Fishel | Zeta Beta Tau |
1989 | Williams S. Zerman | Phi Gamma Delta |
1990 | Dr. John L. Blackburn | Alpha Sigma Phi |
1991 | Dr. Karlem Riess | Phi Kappa Sigma |
1991 | Edwin L. Heminger | Delta Tau Delta |
1992 | William T. Bringham, CAE | Sigma Chi |
1992 | Robert J. Miller, CAE | Phi Delta Theta |
1992 | T.J. Schmitz, CAE | Tau Kappa Epsilon |
1992 | William P. Schwartz | Sigma Alpha Mu |
1993 | Howard R. Alter | Theta Chi |
1993 | Durward W. Owen | Pi Kappa Phi |
1993 | Henry B. Poor | Psi Upsilon |
1993 | George W. Spasyk | Lambda Chi Alpha |
1994 | Patrick I. Brown | Alpha Tau Omega |
1994 | Philip H. Cohen | Alpha Epsilon Pi |
1994 | Maureen S. Syring | Delta Gamma |
1994 | Ralph S. Rumsey | Zeta Psi |
1995 | Edward M. King | Sigma Chi |
1995 | Dr. William R. Nester | Pi Kappa Alpha |
1995 | Mary Peterson | Alpha Phi |
1996 | George Beck | Pi Lambda Phi |
1996 | Jean W. Scott | Pi Beta Phi |
1996 | Rodney Williams Jr. | Tau Kappa Epsilon |
1997 | Charles V. "Chuck" Loring | Phi Sigma Kappa |
1997 | Richard S. Simon | Zeta Beta Tau |
1998 | Hiliary H. Holloway | Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. |
1998 | Russell G. Mawby | Alpha Gamma Rho |
1998 | Mary Burt Brooks Nash | Alpha Xi Delta |
1998 | Frank J. Ruck Jr. | Sigma Phi Epsilon |
1999 | Brian Brooks | Delta Sigma Phi |
2000 | Maurice “Mo” Littlefield | Sigma Nu |
2001 | President George W. Bush | Delta Kappa Epsilon |
2002 | Bill Muse | Tau Kappa Epsilon |
2004 | R. Keith Gilchrest | Alpha Kappa Lambda |
2004 | Idris Traylor | Kappa Alpha Order |
2004 | First Lady Laura Bush* | Kappa Alpha Theta |
2005 | Sidney Dunn | Alpha Epsilon Pi |
2005 | Gregory Hauser | Delta Chi |
2005 | William Jenkins | Phi Kappa Tau |
2006 | Jonathan Brant | Beta Theta Pi |
2006 | Edward A. Pease | Pi Kappa Alpha |
2007 | Phil Josephson | Alpha Gamma Rho |
2008 | Bill Bernier | Sigma Tau Gamma |
2009 | Raymond L. Orians | Pi Kappa Alpha |
2009 | Jon C. Williamson | Lambda Chi Alpha |
2010 | Wilford A. Butler | Delta Upsilon |
2010 | James Estes | Kappa Alpha Order |
2011 | Rick Barnes | FarmHouse |
2011 | Kenneth Tracey | Sigma Alpha Epsilon |
2011 | Jim Vredenburgh | Theta Xi |
2011 | Marc P. Katz | Alpha Epsilon Pi |
2012 | Raymond Galbreth | Delta Chi |
2012 | David Westol | Theta Chi |
2013 | James E. Greer, Jr. | Zeta Beta Tau |
2013 | Dr. Edward H. Hammond | Sigma Phi Epsilon |
2013 | Robert D. Lynd | Kappa Delta Rho |
2013 | Robert F. Marchesani Jr. | Phi Kappa Psi |
2014 | William E. Forester | Kappa Alpha Order |
2014 | Dr. Phillip Summers | Pi Kappa Phi |
2015 | Darold W. Larson | Acacia Fraternity |
2015 | Howard C. Pickett | Sigma Nu |
2015 | Norval B. Stephens, Jr. | Delta Tau Delta |
2016 | Robert Off | FarmHouse Fraternity |
2018 | Ned Kirklin | Kappa Sigma |
2019 | James B. Russell | Delta Tau Delta |
2019 | William A. Martin, III | Phi Gamma Delta |
2021 | Mark E. Timmes | Pi Kappa Phi |
Year | Recipient | Organization |
---|---|---|
1980 | Hugh D. Scott Jr. | Alpha Chi Rho |
1980 | Carroll K. Simons | Phi Kappa Sigma |
1980 | Marsh White | Delta Chi |
1981 | John J. Rhodes | Beta Theta Pi |
1982 | James H. McLaughlin | Zeta Psi |
1982 | Robert H. Shaffer | Sigma Chi |
1984 | Fred L. Dixon | Phi Gamma Delta |
1985 | James S Brady | Sigma Chi |
1985 | President George H. W. Bush | Delta Kappa Epsilon |
1985 | John W. Galbreath | Delta Tau Delta |
1986 | Dr. John W. Ryan | Kappa Sigma |
1987 | Ellison S. Onizuka | Triangle |
1987 | Samuel H. Shapiro | Alpha Epsilon Pi |
1989 | Edward M. King | Sigma Chi |
1989 | Eileen C. Stevens | Alpha Phi |
1990 | Edward A. Pease | Pi Kappa Alpha |
1992 | James E. Greer | Zeta Beta Tau |
1992 | Beth Saul | Alpha Epsilon Phi |
1992 | Dr. Ronald J. Taylor | Zeta Beta Tau |
1992 | Charles N. White Jr. | Sigma Phi Epsilon |
1993 | Wayne S. Colvin | Sigma Phi Epsilon |
1993 | Tom W. Devine | Sigma Alpha Epsilon |
1993 | Mike Posnick | Sigma Alpha Mu |
1994 | Robert F. Manley | Manley Burke & Fisher |
1994 | Jeff Linkenbach | Montana State University |
1995 | Jeffrey W. Shuck | Sigma Chi |
1996 | William N. LaForge | Pi Kappa Alpha |
1996 | David L. Westol | Theta Chi |
1997 | Joel Goldman | Sigma Alpha Mu |
1997 | Richard N. McKaig | Delta Chi |
1997 | T.J. Sullivan | Pi Kappa Phi |
1998 | Barbara B. Hollmann | Phi Mu |
1999 | John Horton | Phi Gamma Delta |
1999 | Nancy Leonard | Alpha Chi Omega |
2000 | Michael Gordon | Kappa Alpha Psi |
2000 | Robert L. Livingston | Delta Kappa Epsilon |
2001 | Robert Dole | Kappa Sigma |
2001 | Elizabeth Dole | Delta Delta Delta |
2001 | Richard Lugar | Beta Theta Pi |
2002 | Kevin O’Neill | Lambda Chi Alpha |
2002 | James J. Carey | Zeta Psi |
2002 | Don Mills | Texas Christian University |
2006 | Wynn Smiley | Alpha Tau Omega |
2007 | Stephanie Tubbs Jones | Delta Sigma Theta |
2007 | Pete Sessions | Pi Kappa Alpha |
2008 | Kent Gardner | Kappa Alpha Order |
2009 | Mark V. Anderson | Sigma Chi |
2009 | Mike Long | Sigma Nu |
2011 | Daniel Shaver | Sigma Chi |
2013 | Kim Novak | Delta Gamma |
2014 | Lori Hart | Alpha Omicron Pi |
2014 | Victor Felts | Sigma Chi |
2015 | Arthur J. Hurt III | Sigma Phi Epsilon |
2015 | James B. “Jim” Ewbank II | Phi Delta Theta |
2015 | John W. Hartman | Sigma Phi Epsilon |
2017 | Dr. Mari Ann Callais | Theta Phi Alpha |
2017 | Jean Mrasek | Chi Omega |
2017 | Greg Singleton | Kappa Alpha Order |
2017 | Bonnie Wunsch | Alpha Epsilon Phi |
2019 | John M. Green | Phi Kappa Tau |
2020 | Keith J. Steiner | Delta Tau Delta |
2021 | Linda Wright | Creative Risk Solutions |